LTH's Pedagogical Academy

University teachers (excluding postgraduate students) at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) are invited to have their teaching qualifications assessed with the aim of being accepted into LTH’s Pedagogical Academy. Those accepted into the Academy will be awarded the distinction of "Excellent Teaching Practitioner" (ETP), and an immediate rise in salary. Moreover, the department to which they belong will receive an increase in their undergraduate teaching grant. The payments are of the same magnitude as those made upon the promotion of a lecturer to senior researcher (docent).

Applicants wishing be admitted to the Academy must show how they have, over a period of time,consciously and systematically, endeavoured to develop means of enhancing students’ learning in their discipline, and how they have made their own experience in teaching available to others in the academic community. Applicants must also be able to analyse and reflect on their teaching practices with the aid of pedagogic literature and other sources of information, and show how they have used these to develop their thoughts concerning teaching and the learning process.

The Assesment ProcessApplications are to be made to LTH’s ETP Committee. Teachers wishing to apply to the Academy should submit the following:

- a teaching portfolio,- a CV, with a special section dedicated to pedagogical activities,- the recommendation of their head of department, and- testimonials to discussions with two reviewers.

The applicants will also be interviewed.

The teaching portfolioThe teaching portfolio consists of a personal document and examples of the applicant’s teaching practices. In the personal document the applicant presents his or her reflections on teaching and learning. Examples should be given from practical teaching experience, which are related to the applicant’s teaching and learning philosophy. The applicant is to motivate the choice of examples and show how they are applied in practice. The applicant should choose a number of relevant examples from their own teaching in order to illustrate the issues they deem most important, according to their own, personal teaching and learning philosophy.

The total length of the portfolio should be 10-12 pages.

A CV with a special section dedicated to pedagogical activitiesThe CV is to be formulated such that the assessors can form an opinion of the applicant’s teaching activities, pedagogic training and other relevant experience and qualifications. The recommendation of the head of department The application shall also include a written recommendation from the head of department. This allows the head of department to attest to the fact that the teacher in question is an excellent teacher, and has no shortcomings in his or her relation to students or colleagues.

It is also natural to provide the head of department with the opportunity to express an opinion on the pedagogical abilities of the applicant. This can be regarded as part of the effort of LTH to make the quality of teaching and student learning an important aspect for its departments.

Testimonials to discussions with two reviewersThe applicant is also to include testimonials confirming that he or she has had discussions on the content of the teaching portfolio with at least two teachers who have already been awarded the distinction of ETP. These two teachers act as reviewers. The applicant may choose whom he or she wishes to discuss the portfolio with, and is responsible for arranging the discussions.The discussions with the reviewers are to be focused on the portfolio in regard to the criteria described in this document. The reviewers are not required to assess the portfolio. The aim of this process is primarily to improve the quality of the portfolio.

The interviewThe interview is a complement to the recommendation of the head of department and the portfoliosubmitted by the applicant. It is especially important that the interview confirms that the applicant’s teaching and learning philosophy and actual practice form an integrated whole. The interview also follows the portfolio in such a way as to allow the applicant to go into detail regarding the examples given.

LTH’s ETP CommitteeLTH’s ETP Committee consists of the Assistant Dean (chair) the Assistant Dean for UndergraduateStudies, two teachers and two students. The teaching representatives are appointed by LTH’s Dean, and the student representatives by the Students’ Union at LTH. This Committee has the overall responsibility for the ETP process and assigns duties to the Assessment Group. The ETP Committee makes all decisions on awarding ETPs based on the findings of the Assessment Group.

The Assessment GroupThe applicant’s qualifications are evaluated by a group of teachers (the Assessment Group). This group is made up of teachers who have already been awarded the distinction of ETP, and who have undergone specific instruction in the assessment process. The members of the group are appointed by the ETP Committee. The Assessment Group may also include a representative appointed by the Students’ Union at LTH. A pedagogical expert, appointed by the ETP Committee, is also affiliated to the Assessment Group. This Group provides recommendations to the ETP Committee as to whether the applicant should be accepted or not.